Long Live Money in Anime Crossover

Jiang Lihua nodded. She understood Mo Mo's deeper meaning and that he wanted her to follow her truest feelings.

So Jiang Lihua stepped forward and said softly, "Father, I don't want to go back now."

Author's Note:

There will be another update in a little while.

203 Pleading

Seemingly influenced by the Emperor's attitude, Jiang Lihua appeared calm. However, the words she uttered were like a giant wave crashing down from the heavens.

Don't want to go back?

Princess Jiang Lihua, the sole heir to the old emperor of the Chinese Empire, is now saying she doesn't want to go back, doesn't want to return to Luoyang, doesn't want to return to the Forbidden City?

If she doesn't go back, where else can she go?

This is absolutely unbelievable!

Almost no one present, except for those directly involved in the whole affair, understood the meaning behind Jiang Lihua's words, let alone imagined that Jiang Lihua would elope with the brilliant strategist who would change the entire Chinese empire.

If the truth were to be revealed, everyone present would probably spit out a mouthful of blood.

What kind of show is this?

Could it get any more outrageous? Do you think this is a novel? Do you think this is a romance drama? A princess eloping with a talented scholar—that's reality! Please, don't stage this farce.

Unfortunately, the facts are the facts. Jiang Lihua is now determined to follow Mo Mo, and perhaps she will use this method to fight against her father.

Upon hearing Jiang Lihua's words, Gao Hai and Jiang Zhong's expressions immediately changed. If Gao Hai hadn't maintained his composure, he probably would have cried out.

Although Gao Hai and Jiang Zhong didn't know for sure that Mo Mo was going to elope with Jiang Lihua, they could still hear Jiang Lihua's resentment towards the old emperor.

Moreover, if Jiang Lihua doesn't go back to Luoyang with the Emperor or to the Forbidden City, where else can she go?

Could it be that someone suddenly has a whimsical idea, feels that the world is so big, and wants to take a spontaneous trip to see the world at will?

That's impossible!

There might only be one option: to follow Mo Mo and leave with him.

If Jiang Lihua is truly determined to go with Mo Mo, then where she goes is no longer important. What matters is that this whole affair is a huge blow to the Emperor.

For the sake of the Jiang family's empire, and for the sake of its future, the old emperor finally couldn't help but take action against Mo Mo. Now, the old emperor has failed, he has yielded, and he's even willing to give half the heavens to Mo Mo to share, all in order to preserve the Jiang family's future.

What does the future hold for the Chiang family?

To put it bluntly, it's just Jiang Lihua alone.

But now, Jiang Lihua actually wants to go with Mo Mo and leave with him. So, what will become of the Jiang family's future?

Such behavior is even more despicable than Momo declaring treason and rebelling, and even worse than the worst-case scenario the old emperor had envisioned—giving up half the country to feed Momo.

The country remains the same, but the person who rules it, the Jiang family, is about to have all their future and hope taken away by Mo Mo.

If Jiang Lihua really leaves with Mo Mo, then what will become of the Jiang family? What will become of the Emperor? What is the purpose of all that the Emperor has done?

Gao Hai didn't understand matters of the heart, but he was very clear about the stakes. His face turned gloomy, and Jiang Zhong, who was opposite him, was even more ashen-faced, with his hand instinctively reaching for his gun at his waist.

Mo Mo... he's practically reaching for the Emperor's lifeblood!

But ironically, the emperor still greeted all of this with a smile.

Unless, the Emperor has decided to tear off all pretenses and disregard even the dignity of the royal family, and directly turn against Mo Mo here.

The old emperor turned around, his smile still on his face, though his back seemed to have become more hunched.

"What nonsense are you talking about, child? It's true that your father didn't handle things well today, and you were implicated, Lihua. But aren't you alright now, Lihua? Momo is fine too, very fine."

"Your father has seen how you are now. Whatever Lihua wants, your father will grant it. Momo, whatever you want, I will grant it too. This time I was wrong, I made you suffer."

The old emperor didn't outwardly apologize, but his tone clearly indicated that he was apologizing to Mo Mo and Jiang Lihua.

Apologizing to his daughter is one thing, as it can be seen as a joke between father and daughter, but for the emperor to apologize directly to Mo Mo is shocking enough.

Jiang Zhong, his face flushed red, immediately knelt down on one knee after the old emperor finished speaking, facing Jiang Lihua, and said, "Your Highness, this time it is the responsibility of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The Embroidered Uniform Guard not only had Your Highness kidnapped, but also put Your Highness in such serious danger. It is all our fault. If Your Highness wants to punish us, please do so!"

"At the same time, on behalf of all the Imperial Guards, Jiang Zhong would like to express our gratitude to Lord Mo. If it weren't for Lord Mo saving Her Highness the Princess, we would be guilty beyond redemption. Please accept Jiang Zhong's bow!"

As he spoke, Jiang Zhong was about to bow down to Mo Mo.

Seeing Jiang Zhong's actions, the Jinyiwei guards around him realized that something was wrong, but since their leader had done so, they had no reason not to follow suit.

After all, the Imperial Guards, which had built up a great reputation over the past five years, had indeed lost face this time. Not only was the princess taken away from them, but judging from the situation today, if it weren't for Mo Mo, the princess might have been in mortal danger.

If Princess Jiang Lihua is indeed injured or even killed because of this incident, they will all likely face the most severe punishment.

A large group of people knelt on one knee, not only to ask for Mo Mo's forgiveness, but also to express their gratitude for Mo Mo's saving their lives.

"Please accept our bow!"

A massive roar surged forth, rushing towards Jiang Lihua. The sheer force of the attack made her gasp for breath; it was the first time she had ever faced such a large contingent of soldiers.

"Alright, alright, get up, everyone."

The old emperor waved his hand and said, "Look at Lihua, don't say anything willful, otherwise the people below won't be able to bear it. You were indeed frightened this time, and they apologized to you, and I apologized to you too. Let them off this time, and let this old man of yours off too, okay?"

"Father can't take a fright, my dear daughter, don't be angry with your father."

The old emperor's smile was almost gone, and his voice lowered, seemingly carrying a hint of pleading.

If there's anything in this world that's truly his weakness, it's Jiang Lihua. And Jiang Lihua's current behavior has taken the emperor by surprise.

He hadn't expected Jiang Lihua to have this attitude, and what could be the reason for this change in her attitude?

The old emperor looked at Mo Mo, a hint of hatred in his eyes, but he smiled and said, "Mo Mo, you should also advise Li Hua not to let him throw a tantrum. In the future, you should not only educate Li Hua in terms of knowledge, but also give her more guidance in how to conduct herself."

"After all... we'll all be family from now on."

The old emperor's voice was a little off-key, but he still said those words, even though he currently believed that Mo Mo was suspected of manipulating Jiang Lihua's emotions and deceiving her feelings.

If Mo Mo were merely vying for power with the Emperor in the court or in politics, the Emperor would still consider Mo Mo a ruthless and ambitious figure. But now that Mo Mo has actually targeted his daughter, in his eyes Mo Mo has become a complete scoundrel.

The old emperor's words startled Jiang Lihua slightly, as if she didn't understand what he was talking about.

"What, do I have to spell it out so clearly, Lihua? Do you think I'm just a father for nothing? Do you think I can't see through your thoughts?"

"Now that Mo Mo is also interested, I can approve of your relationship. As long as Mo Mo marries into our Jiang family... no, actually it doesn't matter if he doesn't, it's your own business."

"If you are willing, your father will be happy to see your good fortune. After all, on one side are your father's daughters, and on the other side are your father's most valued ministers. The future of the Chinese Empire needs you and cannot do without you."

The old emperor forcibly suppressed the trace of hatred in his eyes and said, "Alright, your father has said all this, Lihua, are you still unwilling to forgive your father?"

Jiang Lihua seemed to be persuaded by the old emperor. She pursed her lips, looked at the old emperor, and finally looked at Mo Mo.

The old emperor's gaze also turned to Mo Mo, as if he were waiting for Mo Mo's reply.

However, Momo's answer was despairing.

"Your Majesty, I must eventually depart."

Upon hearing this, the smile on the old emperor's face vanished, Gao Hai's face was filled with gloom, and Jiang Zhong stood up abruptly.

Mo Mo could also feel that Jiang Lihua's hand was clenching in his palm, as if she was very nervous.

“Some things were decided from the beginning. Since I came to the Chinese Empire, I have never shown any desire for power and status, and I have also stated that I will not desire those things.”

"But those who are truly interested never believe it, do they?"

"Fame and fortune, status and all that, are fleeting. Wealth is something I can easily obtain. I will possess these things, but I will not pursue them, much less give up the most important things in my life for them."

The old emperor squinted and said, "I don't understand. What do you value most? What is your purpose? For the past five years, I have never understood you or been able to see through you."

Is there nothing in this world that you care about?

Mo Mo smiled slightly and said, "I never hide the things I care about from others. Actually, she wasn't always by my side; you just didn't notice."

"They...they?"

The old emperor muttered to himself, finally seeming to understand Mo Mo's meaning, but he was filled with disbelief and asked, "Them?"

"Just for some women? Some women you can get your hands on easily!"

“Ah,” Momo also stopped smiling and said, “It seems we’ve finally found the fatal difference in our lives. What I care about, what I pursue, I’m afraid you’ve never paid any attention to, so you’ve never understood me.”

Upon hearing this, the emperor fell silent once again.

204 Standoff

The Emperor still wouldn't believe Mo Mo's words, believing that all the trouble Mo Mo had gone through was simply to pursue a girl.

There are too many women in this world, and too many beautiful women. With billions of people here for Mo Mo to choose from, surely she can find someone who satisfies and moves her heart?

With the Chinese Empire as their capital and having become half the head of the Chinese Empire, what in this world couldn't they obtain effortlessly? Faced with the temptation of wealth and material possessions, how many people would not be tempted?

Mo Mo personally stated his reasons, which was the first time the Emperor had heard Mo Mo state his purpose in person. Unfortunately, the Emperor did not believe him.

The Emperor didn't believe it, Gao Hai and Jiang Zhong didn't believe it either. There was no way a single person could understand the ambitions of the King of Heroes.

Therefore, the three of them did not communicate, but came to a fairly consistent conclusion: they believed that Mo Mo was just playing with them, deceiving them and Jiang Lihua with such a reason, in order to win Jiang Lihua's heart and then use Jiang Lihua as leverage against them.

Using Jiang Lihua's feelings as a means, how could Mo Mo's behavior not anger the Emperor?

Unfortunately, the current emperor could not get angry, because Jiang Lihua believed in Mo Mo, but was beginning to doubt him.

This made the old emperor even curious about what kind of power Mo Mo had used to make his own daughter distrust him and instead trust an outsider, someone she had only spent five years with.

And he, the old emperor, has been with Jiang Lihua for thirteen years as she grew up. In terms of both importance and relationship, Jiang Lihua should not trust Mo Mo and not trust him, right?

Suddenly, the emperor thought of a possibility. Although he had never thought about it in depth before, this idea suddenly popped up without restraint.

Does Momo... possess the power of Geass?

The answer is almost obvious. Since the green-haired CC next to Momo can remove the effects of Geass, it means that she has too many ties to Geass, and Momo is naturally also related to Geass.

Momo should have Geass.

So, what is the effect of Mormo's Geass?

Thinking of this, the old emperor's aging heart began to beat vigorously, because a flame called anger was burning within it.

This flame once again stirred the emperor's heart, making him seem to be filled with power.

However, the old emperor's voice remained gentle, and a smile appeared on his lips as he said, "Lihua, look at me."